Packaging machine



6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 14, 1954 d In H wr

INVENTOR DEAN R SELOCK sa 2&1

ATTORNEYs Feb. 2, 1960 SELQCK 2,923,111

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR DEAN F2 SELOCK Feb. 2, 1960 s oc I 2,923,111

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR DEAN R SELOCK ORNEY Feb. 2, 1960 D. P. SELOCK PACKAGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jul 14, 1954 ATTORN EYs Feb. 2, 1960 D. P. SELOCK PACKAGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 14, 1954 H mm INVENTOR DEAN P. SELOCK Feb. 2, 1960 D. P. SELOCK 2,923,111

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 lllllllllll'il INVENTOR 9 DEAN RSELOCK ATTORNEY5 United States Patent PACKAGING MACHINE Dean P. Selock, Chicago, Ill.,. assignor, by mesne assignments, to .Roto Wrap Machine Corporation, Englewood, N.J., a corporation Application July 14, 1954, Serial No. 443,206

1.6 Claims. .'(.Cl.1'53-.29.)

This invention relates generally to packagingmachincry, and more particularly a machine for forming'bags from a strip or strips of paper or othersheet material by acontinuous operation.

.Heretofore bags have'beenconstructed .of sheet material by apparatus performing the operations of forming a series of connected bags, severing an individual bag, and filling and sealing of the individual bags. However,

such operations have been effected in step by step fashion,

smooth top seal.

According to the present invention, a supply of bag making 'material such as regenerated cellulose, coated paper or metal foil is folded lengthwise as ,ardouble strip, and the so folded strip is fed in a continuous movement to form a series of connected bags with intervally spaced transverse seals effected by ,a transverse side sealing roller. The so connected bagsare severed individually at the transverse seal by a cooperating knife and anvil rollers. These may be so designed ,as to kick or rapidly propel the so severed bag into the bite of a pair of side by side conveyor chains, 'which then convey thesevered bag past a station where the top edges of the bag are opened and inserted with a-rnaterial guiding funnel or the like movable upon an overhead endless conveyor. The funnel or filling guidemoves in continuous fashion with each bag past one or more filling-stations, a metered guantity of material being deposited at each station as the bag continues its movement. When filled as desired, novel means, forming a part of the invention herein, draws the top edges of the filled bag; together after'which the individual bag is closed or sealed-along-its top edge.

With'the foregoing considerations in mind it is a principal object of this invention to-provide an improved machine for making and filling of packages by a.continuous set of operations.

Another object is to provide an "improved packaging machine wherein the'top edges 'of'a'filledbag may'readily be'bronght together so as 'topermit such top edges tobe sealed smoothly.

Yet another object is-to provide'a packaging machine in which all of the operations of making a series of connected bags, severing into individual bags and thefilling and sealing of same is'carried on in acontinuous fashion.

Still another object is to form an individual bag severed from a strip of bag sections'and'tofill such severed bag whilst conveying same in a continuous fashion for all of the operations thereon of ope n filling and sealing.

Other-objects and important features-of the invention 2,923,111. Pa ented Eel-1.2, 1. 60

will be apparent from a study of the specification following taken with the drawings, which together show :a preferred embodiment of the invention, and what is now considered to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof. Other embodiments of the invention may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings herein, and it is therefore intended that the scopeof the invention not be limited by theprecise embodiment herein shown and described, the scope of the invention being intended to be limited only by the breadth and spirit-of the claims subjoined.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is' a front elevation view of a packaging machine having the improvements according to the-present invention embodiedtherein;

Fig. 2 is a schematic isometric view illustrating the operations taking place to fill and seal a bag by the improved machine according to the present invention;

Fig. 2a is an isometric viewto a larger scale than that shown in Fig. 2, illustrating an important feature of the invention which enables :the top edges of the-filledbag to be closed prior to the sealing operation along the top edges thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial front elevation view of the portion of the machine seen in Fig. 1, showing part of the apparatus for forming a series ,of connected bags and severing anindividual bag therefrom and removing of same to a mechanism where the bag is conveyed for the subsequent operations of opening, filling and then pre pared for sealing and then finally sealed;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the portion of the apparatus seen in Fig. 3, said view being taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevation view, to the same scale as Fig.3, of the portion of the packaging machine .where the steps of'filling and preparing the filled bag for sealing and the final sealing take place;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the portion of the machine seen in Fig. 5, said view being taken along the line 66 of Fig. 5 and looking in the directions of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a detailed plan schematic view of the gear train for operating the several portions of the packaging machine in Fig. 1, said view being taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical view taken along the line 88 of Fig. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showingrthe details of the main drive mechanism and the mechanism-for severing an individual bag from a=series of connected bag sections;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation view of one ofthe filling stations of the machine seen in Fig. 1, said view being taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Figs. 1 and 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the material guiding funnels for guiding the material into the severed and opened bag, showing details of endless conveyor chains for supporting and moving the material guiding funnels, said view being taken along the line 1010. of Fig. ,9 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

General organization of machine PM i 'terial 27 may also be in the form of a metal foil, such --as aluminum, which may also be coated with a suitable heat setting cementitious material such as polyethylene or the like. The sheet material 27 is drawn from the reel by means of a pair of rollers 28, 28, past a folding guide 29 which serves to fold the material 27 into two side by side sheets with a bottom fold 31 as seen in Fig. 2. As seen in Fig. 1, the material 27 is brought over an idler shaft 32 supported upon a pair of space arms 33 in turn extending from vertical members 34 secured in any convenient fashion to the table 21.

After passing over the folding guide 29 the folded =sheet is additionally guided past a pair'of idler rollers -36, 36, and after being lead past the rollers 28 the folded strip 27 is sealed along the bottom edges at a sealing station referred to generally by the reference numeral 37. The folded strip which has been sealed at the bottom sealing station 37 is then sealed transversely at regularly .spaced intervals at a transverse sealing station referred .to generally by the reference numeral 38.

The folded strip which has thus been sealed along the bottom edge and also transversely thereof at the stations 37 and 38 is then several transversely midway of the transverse seals at a severing station indicated generally by the reference numeral 40. Such means for severing the series of bag sections thus far described includes an anvil roller 39 and a knife edge roller 41. These two rollers cooperate in such a fashion as to propel or kick the individual severed bag into the bite of a pair of endless side by side conveyor chains 45, 45 as seen in Fig. 2.

The individual cut and severed bag which is now designated by the reference numeral 35 then has its top edges opened by means of a suction device indicated generally at 46. Comcomitant with the action of the suction means 46, a material guiding funnel or cup 47 is introduced into the opened bag 35 near a point where it is received into the bite of the two side by side conveyor chains 45. These material guiding cups 47 serve to guide the material metered at a filling station, indicated generally by the reference numeral 48, into each of the individual bags 35. The configuration of the cups is such as to keep the material away from the top edges of each bag so as not to contaminante the top seal, and also serve to provide more time in which material may be directed into each bag.

The bags which are thus conveyed by the two side by side conveyor chains may move past a first filling station 48, as seen in Fig. l, and then past a second or successive filling station 49, one such successive filling station 49 being also shown in Fig. 1. The cups 47 are arranged to be moved along an endless chain as seen in Fig. 1, and out of the so filled bags at the conclusion of the final filling operation, to be returned along the endless chain, as will be described in more detail as this specifica- .tion proceeds. The so filled bags are then moved to a station where each bag is suitably acted upon so as to bring the top edges thereof close together prior to a final sealing operation of the top edges.

To this end the filled bags are formed suitably at a station indicated generally by the reference numeral 52, see also Fig. 2a, and are then finally sealed along the top edges thereof by means of a pair of heat sealing rollers at a final top sealing station indicated generally by the reference numeral 53. The bags which are thus finally sealed along the top edges thereof are arranged to move down a chute 54 as seen in Fig. 1.

General description of driving mechanism The mechanism thus far described is driven by an electnc motor 56 mounted upon the platform 24 beneath the mam table 21. The motor -56 is connected to a speed reducer 57 to turn a main drive sprocket 58 which is connected by a sprocket chain 59 to turn a sprocket 60 fast upon a main power shaft 61, see also Fig. 8. The main power shaft 61 turns in a pair of supports 62 and 63 depending from the under side of the table 21. Bearings 64 and 66 support the main drive shaft 61 in the standards 62 and 63 respectively. The main drive shaft 61 has fast thereto a main bevel drive gear 67 which meshes with a similar bevel drive gear 68 fast to a shaft 69 turning within a bearing 71 held in a plate 72 fastened to a top of the table 21 by means of socket head screws 73 and 74.

The shaft 69 has fast thereto a gear 76 which provides a central driving gear for all of the mechanism operated at the transverse sealing station38, the severing station 40, the suction opening station 46, the two filling stations 48, 49, the top closing station 52 and the final top sealing station 53.

The gear 76 is thus arranged to idle with an idler gear 77, see Fig. 7, which in turn meshes with a gear 78 mounted upon a shaft 79. A gear 81 is fast to the shaft 79 and meshes with the gear 82 fast upon a shaft 83. The two shafts 79 and 83 form the turning centers for presser rolls at the transverse sealing station 38,'which presser rolls will be described in more detail as this specification proceeds.

The main drive gear 76 likewise meshes with a gear 84 which drives the entire remainder of the mechanism starting with the severing of an individual bag at the station 40. Other gearing shown in Fig. 7 is arranged to operate the suction station 46, the aforesaid filling stations 48 and 49, the station 52 and the final sealing station 53.

Description of register correcting mechanism The two rollers 28, 28 serve to pull bag material from the reeled supply 27 past the folding guide 29 and are arranged to be driven through a differential correction mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 86, and mounted upon the platform 24. The mechanism 86 is driven from a sprocket 87 mounted upon the main drive shaft 61, see Fig. 8. The sprocket 87 has a drive chain 88 trained therearound which in turn drives a sprocket 89 on the differential correcting mechanism 86. The output from the differential correcting mechanism 86 is by means of an output sprocket 91 which drives a chain 92 trained about a sprocket 93 fast upon a shaft 94 secured in standards 96, 96 depending from the under side of the table 21, see Fig. 7. The shaft 94 has fast thereto a bevel drive pinion 97 which meshes with a similar bevel drive 98 fast upon a vertical shaft 99. The vertical shaft 99 has fast thereto a spur gear 101 which meshes with a spur gear 102 fast upon a shaft 103 spaced laterally of the shaft 99. The two shafts 99 and 103 form a turning support for the rollers 28.

As is the practice in packaging with bag material containing advertising or descriptive matter, the individual bag must be cut olf at points intermediate such advertising matter. To this end the measuring rollers 28 which remove and fold the supply of bag material from the supply reel are arranged to correct for any misregister of the bag material, so that when the bags are severed at the cut off station'by the anvil roller 39 and the knife edge roller 41 it must be done at points intermediate the advertising material and midway of the transverse seal.

To this end there is provided a photoelectric sensing mechanism 113. This mechanism may be based upon the reflected light principle, and when the light beam does not impinge upon a particular point on the sheet of material an impulse will be transmitted by means of the sensing mechanism 113 through a cable 114 to a control unit indicated generally by the reference numeral 116. Such a mechanism is arranged as to provide a differential movement of the sprocket 91 with respect to e sp oc et o that the amount of feed action of the feed roller 28 will be properly adjusted. "The precise form of such a correcting device forms no part of the present invention and any suitable commercial form may be employed.

Suffice it to say, however, the action of the photoelectric mechanism 113 and the control mechanism 116 is always such as to cause the bags to be sealed transversely at points intermediate the advertising material carried thereon, and also to be severed at such transverse seals.

Description of bottom sealing mechanism The spur gear 101 meshes with an idler gear 104 which in turn meshes with a gear 106. fast upon a shaft 107 and meshing with a gear 108 which is secured upon a shaft 109. These two shafts have fast thereon respectively bottom sealing rollers 111 and 112 of the bottom sealing station 37. The two shafts 108 and 109 are supported between laterally spaced U-shaped standards 117 and 118, as seen in Fig. 4.

It will *be observed that the measuring rollers 28, 28 and the bottom sealing rollers 111 and 112 are driven through the differential control mechanism 86 and from the common drive shaft 94 as seen in Fig. 7.

As seen in Figure 1, the bottom sealing rollers 111 and 112 are suitably heated by means of electricity supplied through slip rings 119.

Description of transverse sealing station The means for transversely sealing the bag material at predetermined intervals includes a pair of heat sealing rotating presser rolls 129 and 121. These are essentially of equilateral cross-section, and may be formed by machining a cylinder, each fiat side thereof being formed 120 from the other, with intervening circular sector surfaces 122.0n each.

While pressure rolls of triangular cross section are disclosed, it is contemplated that rolls of other cross'sections may be employed in accordance with size of the bags.

The transverse sealing station 38 includes the shafts '79 and 83 upon which the respective presser rolls 120 and 121 are mounted fast, and the two shafts 79 and 83 are supported in a generally U-shaped standard 123 which may be bolted or otherwise conveniently secured to the top of the table 21, as seen particularly in Figs. 3 and 4. The U-shaped members 123 include laterally spaced vertical limbs 124 and 126 which'are spanned by a horizontal plate 127 forming a general support for the bearings, not shown, at the upper ends of the respective shafts 79 and 83.

As seen in Fig. 1 the transverse sealing station 38 is so arranged that the two presser rolls 120 and 121 are each supplied with electricity through the medium of slip rings 128. The precise form of the means for supplying heat to the presser rolls 120 and 121 forms no part of the present invention and other means for supplying heat thereto may be provided equally as well.

Description of bag severing means The vertical shaft 69, see'Fig. 8, extends above the table 21, and supports the knife edge roller 41 which is fast thereto. As seen in Fig. 4, the knife edge roller 41 has a milled slot therein to provide a recess for a knife edge 125 held in the recess by means of screws 129 arranged to adjust the position of the knife edge'125. The knife edge roller 41 cooperates with the anvil roller 42 which is mounted fast upon a shaft 131, see also Fig. 8, and extending above the table 21. The shaft 131 is supported in bearings 132 in the plate and is held against vertical movement by means of a stop collar 133. The portion of the shaft 131 extending beneath the table 21 has fast thereto a pinion 134 which meshes with a pinion 136 upon the shaft 69. The pitch diameter of the pinion 134 is twice that of .the pitch diameter of ege aaa ri 6 pinion "136 and anvil roller 42 is arranged to rotate at a speed one-half of that of knife edge roll 41.

The two shafts 69 and 131 are arranged to be supported at their upper ends in a horizontal plate 137 which spans a pair of vertical standards 138 and 139, see again Figs. 3 and 4. The vertical standards 139 and the support plate 72 together with the horizontal plate 137 afford a support for a pair of gates 141 and 142. These have their inner edges spaced a distance apart to afford passage for the series of bags which have been scaled along their bottom edge and also transversely thereof. The respective gates 141 and 142 are each provided with gate fingers 143 which are held to the respective gate members by means of socket head screws 144.

The horizontal plate 137 and the base support '72 afford a means of connection of two vertical gate members 146 and 147 which also have fingers 148 extending therefrom which guide the bag after it has been severed by means of the knife edge roller 41 and the anvil roller 42.

The peripheral speed of the knife edge roller 41 and the anvil roller 42 is preferably made faster than the linear speed of the connected bag sections, so that upon severing thereof at such, rollers, the action is such as to propel or kick the individual severed bag in a forward path into the bite of a pair of side by side conveyor chains 45 which will now be described.

Description of conveyor for individual severed bag The individual severed bags are moved by the two endless side by side conveyor chains 45, 45 which are driven by a pair of meshing gears 149 and 151 mounted to turn respectively on shafts 152 and 153, see Fig. 7.

The two endless conveyor chains 45, 45 are trained around idler sprockets 157 and155, see Figs. 3 and 4, which are disposed adjacent the cutting and severing station 40. As seen in Fig. .3 the idler sprockets 157 and 158 are mounted upon stub shafts 162 which are retained in identical vertical bearing holders 163.

The two conveyor chains 45, 45 are guided and supported throughout their length and are arranged to be controlled in their distance apart, so as properly to grip a bag along the lower edge thereof which has been severed at the severing station 4 1. As seen with particular reference to Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 of the drawings, such a guide for the endless chains 45 consists of plurality of angles 164 spaced along the table 21. These are held in position by socket head screws 166. The vertical leg of the angle 164 supports a rail 167 held by means of socket head screws 168. A flange 169 extends upward from the rail 167 and guides one of the runs of one of the chains .45. .The corresponding run of the other endless conveyor chain 45 is guided along the rail 167 by means of a second flange member 171 which can be adjusted in its spacing from the other flange 169 by means of set screws 172 which are threaded into the rail 167.

The clear distance between the flange 171 and the flange 169 may thus be adjusted according to the size of the conveyor chain 45 and the thickness of the bottom seal of the bag 35 as seen in Fig. 9.

As seen particularly in Fig. 2, the individual bag which has been severed at the station 49 is thus conveyedalong by the two side by side conveyor chains 45, 45 past the bag opening station 47 past one or more filler stations 48 and 49 and past the bag closing stations 52 and 53.

Details of station for opening the top of a severed bag Referring now particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 7 of the drawings, when the individually severed bag has entered the bite of the two side by side conveyor gripper chains 45, 45, they are shortly thereafter caused individually to have their top edges open at the bag opening station-46 as will now .be described.

Referring also to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the platform 24 beneath the cable 21 supports a motor driven suction pump unit 181. The suction side of the suction unit 181 is connected to a pair of flexible hoses 182 to which are connected short suction pipes 183 terminating in a suction cup 184. These are arranged to move with a reciprocating motion towards and away from the path of travel of the individually severed bag while being conveyed by the two endless conveyor chains 45, 45.

The precise form and size of the suction cups 184 may .be varied in accordance to the size of the bags and the material from which they are made.

As seen with particular reference to Fig. 7, the idler gear 84 meshes with a train of gears consisting of meshing gears 186, 187 and 188. Gear 186 is connected through a pair of idler gears 189 and 191 to a train of gears 192, 193 and 194 similar to the gears 186, 187 and 188. Gears 186 and 188 are fast to shafts 196 and 197, see also Figs. 3 and 4, having a pair of cranks 198 and 199 turning therewith. These two cranks are connected by a link 201 having a vertical standard 202 extending upward therefrom, said vertical standard having a slot 203 therein whereby the position of the suction cups 184- and the suction pipe 183 may be adjusted according to the height of the bag 35.

Referring back to Fig. 7, the two gears 192 and 194 are likewise mounted fast to similar shafts 196 and 197 which turn corresponding cranks 198 and 199. Said cranks are also connected by a link 201 which supports a similar standard 202 for the opposite suction cup 184 and suction hose 183.

It is believed apparent that the two suction cups 184 will move toward and away from the severed bag 35, and the suction thereat will pull the top edges of the bag apart.

Details of material directing funnels and conveyor mechanism therefor Means are provided for inserting the material directing funnel or guide 47 which enters the individually severed bag concomitant with the opening of the top edges thereof, and which is so arranged as to remain inserted between the top lips of the bag during the filling process and to be withdrawn therefrom at the conclusion of such operation. Such funnels or material guides are synchronized with the movement of the bags by the conveyor chains 45, 45, but do not influence in any manner the movement of the individual cut and severed bags along the conveyor chain.

Furthermore, the presence of the cups 47 during the filling operation insures that the top edges of the opened bag will not become contaminated by the filling material which could prevent a tight top seal.

The material guiding funnels 47 are arranged to move in an orbit upon apair of spaced conveyor chains 211. These conveyor chains are arranged to travel in such orbit over spaced pairs of sprockets 212, 213, 214, 215, 216 and 218. Spaced sprockets 212 are arranged to turn on an idler shaft 219 held in a pair of spaced standards 221 mounted on the top of the horizontal plate 127 spanning the standards 124 and 126 at the transverse sealing station 38. A pair of spaced standards 222, see Fig. 4, flank the station 46 where the bag opening takes place, and the two standards 222 are spanned by an idler shaft 223 for the idler sprocket 218.

The two endless conveyor chains 211, are driven through the medium of a guide chain 224, see also Fig. 8, trained around a sprocket 225 fast upon the main drive shaft 61. The endless drive chain 224 turns a sprocket 235, fast upon a shaft 226 to which the spaced sprockets 213 are likewise made fast.

A similar pair of standards 227 are spanned by an idler shaft 228 for the spaced sprockets 216, and an upper idler shaft 229 for the spaced sprockets 214.

Suitable tension is placed upon the pair of chains 211- by means of the sprocket 215 which is mounted upon an idler shaft 231 adjustable in position in a slot 232 of a bracket 233. The bracket 233 may be moved up and .down as'seen inFig. 1 to raise the cups 47 a desired degree as they emerge from a filled bag, and the bracket 233 may be adjusted vertically by means of the cap screws and the slots formed in the standard 227, as seen in Fig. 1.

Each of the material guiding cups 47 as seen in Fig. 10 is in the form of a generally truncated cone of a generally elliptical cross section. Each of the cups 47 is provided with a pair of cars 234 arranged to be held by means of screws 236 to a lug 237 protruding inwardly at spaced intervals along the length of the chains 211.

The cups 47 are arranged to be guided by means of a pair of spaced shoes 241, see Fig. 3 which are disposed on top of the horizontal plate 137 spanning the two vertical standards 138 and 139 at the severing station 40. These two spaced shoes are arranged to contact the underside of the conveyor chain 211 and are of such configuration that the cup 47 starts to move downward at this point to enter between the top edges of the severed bag while it is being opened at station 46. Each of the cups 47 has a probing finger 242 which facilitates entrance of the cup to bag 35.

In addition to the suction means at the station 47 the exhaust side of the suction pump 181 is arranged to direct a stream of air down through the funnel of the cup 47 as it approaches the opening station 46 and whilst the cup is moving past such station. Such a stream of air is provided by means of a branching pipe 243, seen in Fig. 2.

Description of bag filling means The individual severed bag which has been opened at the station 46 continues its advance while being gripped by the side by side conveyor chains 45 to be filled at one or more filler stations denoted by the reference numerals 48 and 49, see also Figs. 1 and 2. The description obtaining for filler station 48 will suffice for filler station 49, and so the description of the latter station will not be repeated.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 3, 4, 7 and 9 of the drawings, the filler station 48 is supported upon a U-shaped standard 244 having a pair of spaced vertical limbs 246. The standard 244 is held to the table 21 by means of cap screws 247.

A power shaft 248 extends between the vertical limbs 246, see also Fig. 7, and is arranged to be coupled to a gear 249. Power to drive the gear 249 is provided by means of a cluster gear 251 meshing with the gear 194 of the bag opening means at the'station 46. An idler gear 252 mounted upon an idler shaft 253 meshes with a similar driving gear 249 at the filler station 49.

The shaft 248 is coupled to the driving gear 249 by means of a dog coupling 254, see Fig. 9. The dog coupling 254 is fast to the shaft 248 and is rocked to and from coupling connection with a dog 256 fast on the gear 249 by means of a shifter yoke 257 extending from a rock shaft 258. Supports 259 and 261 depend from the table 21 as seen in Fig. 9 and the rock shaft 258 is rocked by a suitable lever 262.

The shaft 248 rotates. with a metering plate 263 having a hub 264 made fast to the shaft 248. A hopper 266 overlies the metering plate 263 and is held in position to a bracket 267 extending from a vertical support 268, see also Fig. 1. A non-rotating plate 269 has a central hub 271 secured in any convenient manner to a member 272 bridging the vertical limbs 246 of the U-shaped support 244.

The plate 269 is spaced below the rotating plate 263 and the rotating plate 263 has evenly spaced circular .9 :sleeve 276'having aflange 277 bearingagainst theaupper side of the fixed plate 269. A coiled spring :278 sur- .rounds the two sleeves 274 and276, has 'one end bot- :tomed against the under side of the rotating perforated plate 263, and the other end bottomed against the flange 277 so as to urge same to a snug positionon the lower fixed plate 269.

The lower fixed plate 269 has a circular opening 279 therein so arranged with respect to the moving funnels or cups .47 that a charge of material in the hopper 266 will be picked up by the rotative movement of a plate 263 and carried within the metering sleeves 274 and 276 -to be subsequently discharged through the opening 279 and deposited into the bag 35.

Suitable means may be provided as at 280 for adjusting the spacing of the rotating plate 263 and the fixed plate 269. When it is desired to cease the filling op- *bring the lips thereof close together prior to the final -sealing operation.

Description of means for closing the 'top edges. ofbag Referringwnow to Figs. 2a, and 6.ofthe drawings,

:the bags '35 Which are still movingin the grip of the two side by-side conveyor chains 45, 4 5;are now actedupon :by:meansas will now be described to bring thetop edges .thereof :together preparatory :to the crimping orsealing not the top of ,the bag with a:smooth.unwrinkledcrimp I ioriheatzseal. Suchmeans are indicated generallyby the reference numeral 52, and includes mechanism similar :to:that for driving the suction .means for opening the ;b.ags;as:at'the station 46. Thepower train-shown in Fig.

:7 includes ,an idler cluster gear 281 which meshes with .anidler gear 282. This last gear meshes with a train {of pinions 283, 1284 and .286, gears 283 and 286 'being :fast .upon s'hafts;287 and 288.

Gear 283, by'means of idler gears 289-and'29 1, drives :pinions 292, 293 and 294, pinions 292 and 294ibeing' amounted fast respectively on shafts 296 and 298. As .seenin 'Fig. 6 shafts 287 and 288 turn respectively cranks :29,9 and 301, which are connectedby a link 302 so as gtoztravel in an orbital fashion. The shafts 296 and 298 .likewise turn cranks 303 and 304 connected by-a similar flink 306, also arranged tomove toward and away'frorn the pathof travel of theindividually filled bag while inthe grip of the two side-by side conveyor chains 45.

The link' 302 has a pair of spaced standards 307haviingpins 308 extending therefrom and in a direction toward the two side by side conveyor chains 45. Each of the standards' 307 carries a 'pairof such protruding pins :disposed one on top of another as seen in Fig. 5.

The opposite link 306 carries a similar pair of stand- -ards1309, see also Fig. 2a each having extending there- .froma single pin 311. These may be so disposed as to .be'always in the same plane as the pins 308, and to bisect "the distance therebetween. -It is not intended that the precise location and disposition of the pins 308 and 309 zshown herein be of a limitative nature but merely by :way; of example.

Irrespective of the precise disposition of the pins 30.8 and 309, or the precise disposition of mechanical equivalents thereof, their function is such that upon coming together with the filled bag therebetween the bag will be further formed in such a fashion as tobring the top edges together in spite. of being so filled. Fig. 2a shows 'ithe manner in which the top edges or lips of the .bag are brought together.

ing with a gear 313 fast upon a shaft 314. A gear 316 is also fast upon the shaft 314 and meshes with a similar gear 317 'fast upon a shaft 318. The two shafts 314 and '318 are supported for turning upon parallel vertical axes ,in a generally U-shaped standard having vertical limbs 321 and 322 which are spanned by a top cross member 323. The two shafts 314 and 318 carry heat sealing rollers 324 and 326, and electric power is conducted thereto by means of a slip ring assembly referred to generally by the-reference numeral 327, see Fig. l.

vAfter being so sealed in a smooth and unwrinkled manner by reason of the preliminary operation at the station 52 where the two top edges of the filled bag are brought together, the filled and completely sealed bag is advanced by the two side by side conveyor chains 45, 45 along its bottom edge, and is also gripped by a pair of endless conveyor chains 328 and 329 see also Figs. 5 and 6. These two endless conveyor chains 328 and 329 are spaced above the gripper chains 45, 45 and are driven from the shafts 152 and 153 which receive their power from a pinion 331 meshing with the gear 313 and also from a gear 332 fast upon the shaft 153. As seen in Fig. 5 the shaft 153 also has fast thereto a sprocket 333 which drives the endless chain329, said chain also being trained about an idler sprocket 334 mounted on an idler shaft 336 held in a vertical support 337. The endless chain 328 is likewise trained around a sprocket 338 fast upon the shaft 152, said chain being also trained around an idler sprocket 339 turning on an idler shaft 341.

The filled and sealed bags then are advanced bythe gripper chains 45 and the endless chains 328 and 329 to a chute 54, the bags thereafter being handled in any convenient manner.

Summary It is believed that the machine according to the present resides in the fact that all of the steps of forming a series of bags from one or more strips of bag forming material takes place in a continuous fashion and not in an inter-- .mittent or step by step fashion.

The step of severing an individual bag from a series of connectedbags likewise takes place while the bag is continuously moving, and not while the bag is stationary. Furthermore, the action of thesevering mechanism may .be such that the individual severed bag is actnaily propelled or kicked into the grip or bite of the continuously moving side by side conveyor chains. The further sequence of steps wherein the top edges of the bag are .pulled apart and the bag is filled at one or more filling stations also takes place in a non-intermittent fashion.

Afurther important feature of the invention, whereby the filled bag is prepared for the final crimping or top sealing operation, includes means which brings the top edges of the filled bag together so that the final top seal or crimping is smooth and unwrinkled. Such a step, which is-extremely important, is likewise done while the bagis moving.

Since all of the steps of forming, filling and final sealing ofthe bag takes :place in a continuous manner and not in an intermittent or step by step fashion the rate of provductionfor the packaging machine according to this invention has greatly surpassed the production possible with machines operating in an intermittent or step by step fashion.

While the invention has been described in terms of an T11 embodiment which it has assumed in practice its scope is not intended to be limitedeby the precise embodiment herein shown, nor otherwise than by the scope of claims here appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine for making individual filled bags, means for forming bag material into the form of a continuous strip having a closed bottom and an open top, means for continuously moving said strip, means for sealing the bag forming material of such continuous strip transversely at predetermined spaced intervals to form the side seams of a series of interconnected and continuously moving bag sections, means for cutting said' continuously moving strip into individual bagsalong such transverse seal and for accelerating said individual bags into spaced relationship, conveyor means for sequentially receiving said individual spaced bags and for conveying said spaced individual bags near the bottom thereof, means for spreading the top edges of each individual bag, means for filling an individual bag, means for bringing the top edges thereof together prior to the sealing thereof so as to insure a smooth seal, said means being operable in directions substantially normal to the plane along which the filled bag is conveyed to contact the filled bag and further form same to bring the top edges together, and sealing means for sealing the top edges of each bag together. 7 V

2. In a machine for making individual filled bags, means for forming bag material into the form of a strip having a closed bottom and an open top, means for sealing the bag forming material of such strip transversely at predetermined spaced intervals to form the side seams of a series of bag sections, means for cutting said strip into individual bags along such transverse seal, conveyor means for conveying an individual severed bag near the bottom thereof, means for spreading the top edges of each individual bag, means for filling an individual bag, means for bringing the top edges thereof together of a filled bag prior to the sealing thereof so as to insure a smooth top seal, said means comprising first and second support means on opposite sides of the filled bag, a first and second plurality of fingers projecting from said support means toward opposite sides of the filled bag and substantially perpendicularly thereto, reciprocating drive means for moving said first and second support means toward and away from opposite sides of the filled bag, said fingers contacting the bag from opposite sides thereof and in timed relation thereto, and sealing means for sealing the top edges of each individual bag.

3. In a machine for making individual filled bags, means for forming bag material into the form of a continuous strip having a closed bottom and an open top, means for continuously moving said strip, means for sealing the bag forming material of such continuous strip transversely at predetermined spaced intervals to form the side seams of a series of interconnected bag sections continuously moving along a predetermined path, means for cutting said continuously moving strip into individual bags along such transverse seal and for kicking each individual bag in sequence further along said path at an increased velocity for spacing the individual bags in sequence along said path, endless means for receiving in sequence said spaced individual bags and for conveying each individual bag near the bottom thereof, means for spreading the top edges of each individual bag, material guiding means traveling in timed relationship with an individual bag and arranged to enter between the top edges thereof, means for filling an individual bag, means for further forming a bag after being so filled so as to bring the top edges thereof together, and means for thereafter sealing the bag.

4. In a machine for making individual filled bags, means for forming bag material into the form of a strip having a closed bottom and an open top, means for sealing the bag forming material of such strip transversely at predetermined spaced intervals to form the side seams of a series of bag sections, means for cutting said strip into individual bags along such transverse seal, means for conveying an individual severed bag near the bottom thereof comprising a pair of side by side endless conveyors respectively engaging the bag on opposite sides, means for spreading the top edges of each individual bag comprising first and second support means on opposite sides of the bag to be spread, first and second suction means carried thereby and directed toward opposite sides of the bag to be spread, reciprocating drive means moving said suction means toward and away from the bag, said suction means acting upon opposite sides of the bag near the top edges, a funnel member adapted to enter the top of the bag, and means directing fluid under pressure down through said funnel member, means for filling an individual bag through said funnel member, means for further forming a bag after being so filled so as to bring the top edges thereof together, and means for thereafter sealing the bag.

5. In a machine for making individual filled bags, means for forming bag material into the form of a continuous strip having a closed bottom and an open top, means for sealing the bag forming material of such continuous strip transversely at predetermined spaced intervals to form the side seams of a series of interconnected bag sections, driving means continuously moving said interconnected bag sections and continuous strip, means for cutting said strip into individual bags along such transverse seal, endless conveyor means for conveying an individual bag near the bottom thereof, said conveyor means having a bite spaced from said cutting means by a distance greater than the spacing of the side seams of said interconnected bag sections, said cutting means comprising a knife edge roller and an anvil roller which are operable to propel the individual severed bag into the bite of said endless conveyor means, and means for spreading the top edges of each individual bag.

6. In a machine for making individual filled bags, means for forming bag material into the form of a strip having a closed bottom and an open top, means for sealing the bag forming material of such strip transversely at predetermined spaced intervals to form the side seams of a series of interconnected bag sections, drive means for continuously moving said interconnected bag sections at a predetermined speed, means for cutting said strip into individual bags along such transverse seals, said cutting means comprising a knife roller and an anvil roller, and conveyor means for conveying an individual severed bag near the bottom thereof, said conveyor means having an entrance spaced from said cutting means by a distance greater than the spacing between the side seams of said interconnected bag sections, said conveyor means moving at a higher speed than said strip of interconnected bag sections, said knife roller and anvil roller operating at a higher peripheral speed than said strip of interconnected bag sections for propelling the individual bags in sequence in spaced relationship into the conveyor entrance.

7. In a machine for making individual filled bags, means for forming bag material into the form of a strip having a closed bottom and an open top, means for sealing the bag forming material of such strip transversely at predetermined spaced intervals to form the side seams of a series of bag sections, means for cutting said strip into individual bags along such transverse seal, conveyor means for conveying an individual severed bag near the bottom thereof, means for spreading the top edges of each individual bag, material guiding means having a funnel-like shape and traveling in timed relationship with an individual bag and arranged to enter between the top edges thereof, means cooperating with said material guiding means for filling an individual bag, said bag filllng means comprising a hopper, a rotating metering mechanlsm having a plurality of metering sleeves spaced from the axis of rotation and passing in sequence beneath said hopper, said metering sleeves being open at the top and bottom,= a:plate"beneath said metering sleeves forlpreventing premature discharge from the open bottoms {Ofdh'e metering sleeves, said plate having an opening therein comingint'o alignmentwith the funnel like-material guiding means, said'metering-tsleeves{discharging through said means for .thereafter'sealing the bag.

.8. In mechanism of the class described including means for forming bag'forming material in a,series of connected lbags having a losedbot'tom andan open top with transverse intervally spaced 'sealsfmeans for severing said series of bags 'into individual bags, means for conveying a severed bag substantially along .the bottom edge thereof, =means ffor 'filling a "bag carried by said conveying Imeans, means for closing the open .top of said filledbag .so as tocondition theso filled'bagpr'ior to the-final top sealing thereof, said'last named means comprising members movable back and forth transversely to the path of travel of said filled bag and on opposite sides of the filled bag, said members including a pair of such members spaced in a substantially vertical plane to one side of said filled bag and a single member in a similar plane to the other side of said filled bag and intermediate the first pair of said members and being arranged to contact and press against the opposite sides of said filled bag and by a forming operation on said bag to close the top thereof, and sealing mechanism for sealing the top of the bag after the closing operation.

9. In mechanism of the class described including means for forming bag forming material in a series of connected bags having a closed bottom and an open top with transverse intervally spaced seals, means for severing said series of bags into individual bags, means for conveying a severed bag substantially along the bottom edge thereof, means for filling a bag carried by said conveying means, means for bringing the top edges of said filled bag together prior to the sealing thereof, said last named means comprising members on opposite sides of the filled bag movable in orbital paths extending transversely to and longitudinally of the path of travel of said filled bag, said members being arranged to contact the opposite sides of said filled bag while moving along respective portions of said orbital paths substantially parallel to and adjacent to the path of travel of the filled bag and by a forming operation on said bag to bring the top edges thereof together, and sealing mechanism for sealing the top edges together.

10. In mechanism of the class described including means for forming bag forming material in a series of connected bags having a closed bottom and an open top with transverse intervally spaced seals, means for severing said series of bags into individual bags, means for conveying a severed bag substantially along the bottom edges thereof, means for opening and filling a bag carried by said conveying means, means for bringing the top edges of said filled bag together prior to the sealing thereof, said last named means comprising first and second members on opposite sides of the filled bag and movable transversely to the path of travel of said filled bag, said first member engaging one side of the filled bag at two vertically spaced regions, said second member engaging the opposite side of the filled bag at a third region vertically intermediate said first two regions for curving the top of the bag about an axis parallel with its path of travel thereby bringing the top edges into longitudinal alignment, and means for sealing the top edges together.

11. In mechanism of the class described including means for forming bag forming material in a series of connected bags having a closed bottom and an open top with transverse intervally spaced seals, means for severing said series of bags into individual bags, means for conveying a severed bag substantially along the bottom edge 'thereof, -said severing means being operable to propel '=anindividually-severed :bag intosaid conveying means and "comprising a knife edge roller and an anvil roller,

- means for filling-a ,bag carried by said conveying means, "means for bringing the top edges of said filled ibagto- -ge'ther .prior to 'the final sealing thereof by curling .the "top of'the bag slightly about anaxis parallel :with its top "edgesandincluding first 'and second portions onopposite sides of the bag near its top, said first portion engaging -.two:areas of the bag spaced different distances from the top, andsaid second portion engaging a third area on the opposite side of the bag at a distance from the-top "-Whldh'ilS between the respective distances from thetop -of:the first two areas, and means for sealing the top-of {the bag.

112 In mechanism of the class described including 'rneans'forforming bag forming material in a series of -connected bags having:a closed bottom and an open top iwithg -transverse intervally spaced seals, means for severing said series of bags into individual bags, means for conveying a severed bag substantially along the bottom edge thereof, said severing means being operable to propel an individually severed bag into said conveying means, means for filling a bag carried by said conveying means, means for bringing the top edges of said filled bag together prior to the final sealing thereof by bending the top portion of the bag slightly about an axis parallel with the top edges, said bag bending means including a pair of members engaging one side of the filled bag near the top at two places spaced different distances from the top and a member engaging the opposite side of the bag at a third place generally between said two places, and means for sealing together the top edges of the bag.

13. In mechanism of the class described including means for forming bag forming material in a series of connected bags having a closed bottom and an open top with transverse intervally spaced seals, means for severing said series of bags into individual bags, means for conveying a severed bag substantially along the bottom edge thereof, said severing means being operable to advance the individually severed bags in sequence in spaced relationship into said conveying means, mechanism for filling the individual bags including funnel-like cups adapted to enter the tops of the individual bags and a hopper for holding the material to be loaded into the individual bags, and a rotating metering mechanism for delivering metered amounts of the material from the hopper to the funnel-like cups, means for bringing the top edges of said filled bag together prior to the final sealing thereof, and means for sealing together the top edges of the bag.

14. In a method of making individual filled bags, the steps comprising forming bag material into the form of a strip having a closed bottom and an open top, sealing the bag forming material of such strip transversely at predetermined spaced intervals to form the side seams of a series of bag sections, severing individual bags from such strip, depositing a commodity into successive bag sections, further forming a so filled bag by warping the top portion of the filled bag about an axis parallel with the top edges so as to bring the top edges of a filled bag together into longitudinal alignment, and sealing the so further formed bag thereafter.

15. In a method of making individual filled bags, the steps comprising forming bag material into the form of a strip having a closed bottom and an open top, sealing the bag forming material of such strip transversely at predetermined spaced intervals to form the side seams of a series of bag sections, depositing a commodity into successive bag sections, further forming a so filled bag by bending the top portion of the filled bag about an axis parallel with the top edges so as to bring the top edges of a filled bag together into coincidence at all points along their length, and sealing the so further formed bag thereafter.

16. In a machine for making individual filled bags including means for forming bag forming material in a series of connected bags having a closed bottom and an open top with transverse intervally spaced seals, separating means for separating said series of bags into individual bags, first conveyor mechanism for conveying the separated bags in sequence along a path, second conveyor mechanism moving in synchronism with said first conveyor mechanism having a plurality of funnel-like filling cups adapted to enter the open tops of the bags along said path, a hopper spaced to one side of said path, rotating metering mechanism including a plurality of metering sleeves having open tops and bottoms passing in se quence beneath said hopper, a plate beneath said metering mechanism having an opening above said filling cups as they move along said path, said metering sleeves passing in sequence above said opening, said plate effectively closing the bottoms of said metering sleeves during their passage from said hopper to said opening, and

216 -means for closing and sealing the top of the bag after filling. V V

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

